I kinda understand, although I think it's counterproductive. It's in the pilot DNA to require information and control when we're heading towards a destination. This is no different. When we don't have the big picture, or there is a lack of information (no ATIS, can't get ahold of dispatch, etc) we are hard-wired to default to the worst case scenario. It's exactly why we are so good at what we do at work, and exactly why we are soooo bad in situations like this where we are temporarily flying blind.

To overuse aviation analogies in one post, I view this part of the process like deadheading. If I didn't have confidence in the crew, I wouldn't have gotten on board. Now that we're airborne I have to endure a little turbulence and allow the crew to do their job.

When we land (assuming we made it to the right airport), I'll walk across the hall to the next gate and thoroughly go over the paperwork (TA) for the flight that I'm about to operate (vote on.)


Agreed